HELIA. 20. Nr. 27. p.p. 127-134. (19971 UDC 63 1.416.2:633.854.78

INFLI,IENCE OF DIFFERENT AI\4BIENTCONCENÎRATIONS OF SI,JLPI{ATE ION ON THEPARTITIONING OF SI,]LPHURAI\ID GROTVTH OF

ROOT, SÎEM AI\[D LEAVES OF SUNFLOWER

Arshad Ali, Badr-uz-Zaman, S. M. Gill, B. H. Niazi and M. Salim

Plant Nutrition, Land Resources Research lnsiti.tute, Nc"tionc.L AqriculturatResearch Centre, Park Road, Islamabad.

Receiued: June 02, 1997Accepted: Nouember 24, 1997

SUMMARY

Sunflower plants (Hetianlhus annuus L. cv. NK-26S) were grown hydro_ponically ir half strengfh Hoagland nutrie't solution (pH s.7) to study theresponse of plant parts to graded levels of S (0, lO, 20, 30, 4O and SO Ug mf l)in triplicate. Twelve-day old seedlings were transplanted. The harvests tookplace on the 29tn and 36th day after transplanting. After harvesting, plant partswere separated into leaf, stern and root. plant parts were dried in an oven at7o+2"c after recording fresh weight. The samples were digested in HNo3 andHCloa arld s was estinated. The application of 20 ltg S rnl-l significantly incre-ased the root and shoot lengfh. The relative growth rate (RGR) of plants grownin 20 [g S rnl' I was 0.26 mg rng- I day- I as co-rnpared with O. l gg *g -g

fauy- I

in case of the control, similarly sulphur was much rnore efficiently used byplants grown in 20 ug S rnl-l than in the other treatlnents. sulphur uptake indeveloping leaves (DL), expanded leaves (EL) and old leaves (oL) was curvilrr-early correlated with the S applied. Sulphur uptake was increased by 4o and48Oo/o, in DL and EL, respectively, when piants were grown in 20 pg S rnl-1. Asthe S application increased beyond 2O pgml-I, the uptake declineà. Develop_ing, older and expanded leaves responded clearly to the applied S. Roots acteda$ a supplier frorn the source to sink, stem responded lesser than leaves. Asthe metabolic activities are higher in expaaded leaves, they showed a clearresponse.

Keywords: Sunflower, sulphur nutrition, plant growth.

INTRODUCTION

The production of edible oil is insufficient to meet the domestic consumptionrequirements of constantly growing population of the country. The unpredictableand continuous rise in inputs is adding to the capital investment of a farmer who,like ever, as a successful enterpreneur, struggles for a wider ratio of output to

t2a HELIA, 2O, Nr. 27, p.p. 127 -134' ( 1997)

input. Therefore, an accurate and juoicious use of fertilizers as per plant growth

requirement is desired.

Sunflower is an important non-conventional oilseed crop. Its requirement for

nutrients at different growth stages are not known under local conditions' Sulphur

is an essential plant nutrient which plays an important role in protein synthesis' Its

requirement for several crops is as high as that for phosphorus (Dixit and Shukla'

1984; Bapat et al., I986; Uexkull, 1988). Hence, requirements of sunflower at seed

development stage may increase. Sulphur enters through the root system of a plant

in the form of SO4 (Bardsley, 196O). The response of different vegetative parts of

sunflower may be differential to various concentrations of this particular ion in the

root medium. Its uptake may be active or passive depending upon the prevailing

conditions of the root system. Investigations show that sulphur levels increase with

age in some plants but decrease in others (Eaton, 1966)' A study was conducted to

record the response of different vegetative parts of sunflower to various concentra'

tio's of SOnz- in the root medium and the results are presented in this publication.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seeds of Helianthus annuus L. (NK-265) were germinated in nutrient free

qûafTz sand. Twelve-day old seedlings were transplanted into plastic pots contain-

ing 2 litre of half strength Hoagland's nutrient solution adjusted to pH 5'7' After two

days the pots received sulphur as ammonium sulphate at the concentrations: o' 1o'

20, 30, 40 and 5o gg ml-l, in triplicate. The temperature was maintained at 3o+2'C'

Nutrient solutions were changed weekly. The harvests took place on the 29th and

36th day after transplanting. In each harvest' the plants were separated into leaf'

stem and roots. After recording their fresh weight they were dried in an oven at

7O+2"C. Relative $rowth rate (RGR) was calculated (Hunt' 1978):

RGR (mg mg'r day-I; =lnW2-InWr

'12-Tt

where w1 and w2 were total dry weight of plants at harvest time T1 and T2' respec-

tively. Specilic absorption rate of S (Is) per unit of root dry weight lpmol gl day-I)

was calculated bY Hunt ( 1978):

sz-St ln RW2 - In RW1

Is=RW2 - RWI'lz - Tt

where 51 and 52 were total S content of plants and RW1 and RW2 were root dry

weiÊht at harvest time T1 and T2. Efficiency of S utilization (g dry matter produced

L29

pmol-I S day-l;by sunflower was determined(Us) of S according to Hunt (1978):

by calculating specific utilization rate

US=Wz-Wr ln52-ln51Tz-Tr sz-Sr

where W, S and T were the same as above.

Dried samples were weighed and digested with HNo3 ancl HCloa. Sulphur in thedigest was estimated according to Verma (l98l). The results were statistically ana-lyzed according to Comez and Gomez (1926).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

An increase in length of root and shoot remained a function of time and it wasstrengthened by the application of S at different concentrations. Comparing controlat 20 pg s ml-1, the increase in root and shoot length was gb and 36010, respectively.The ascending order of s application effect on the root and shoot length was o < I o <5O<30<4O<2O (Table l).

Table l: Effect of different levels of So4 on the root and shoot length of sunflowerSOa applied Hl Total SOa applied H1 H2 Total

(ppm) Root (cm) (ppm) Shoot (cm)

10

20

JU

40

50

16.0

23.1

27.3

24.1

23.5

23.2

26.9eqe

52.2

39.6

40.5

37.5

42.9

58.4

79.5

63.7

64.0

60.7

0

10

20

30

40

50

30.3

31 .4

40.2

36.4

33.2

43.3 73.6

57.3 88.7

60.5 100.7

57.8 93.3

58.8 95.2

57.6 90.8LSD 7.81 17.67 LSD 3.94

Table 2: Effect of different levels of soa on leaf and stern fresh weight of sunflowerSOa applied Hl Utt2 Total SO4 applied H1

(ppm) Leaf (mg/plant) (ppm) Stem (mg/plant)0

10

20

30

40

50

2176.3 5257.9

4243.9 18304.7

570f .3 23620.6

4882.1 15847.2

4541 .9 20922.1

451 1.5 18441 .0

7434.2

52548.6

51870.5

20729.3

25464.O

22952.5

0

10

20

30

40

50

1745.2

3101 .0

3293.8

2949.3

2804.5

2646.9

5617.1 7362.3

16907.5 20008.s

19665.9 22959.7

18225.7 21175.0

20504.8 23309.3

18896.4 21543.3LSD 1 698 LSD

Sulphur application increased the fresh weight of leaves. The fresh weight was245o/o]nigt,er when plants were suppliecl with 20 gg s ml-l as compared *itrr tn.control. Sulphur application also increased the fresh weight of stem. The stem fresh

130 HELIA, 20, Nr. 27, p.p. 127 -r34, ( 1997)

weight was 211"/o higher when plants were grown in 20 Fg S ml-r as compared with

the control.

DMY of stem and root also responded to the soa application. In both cases, itwas optimum at 20 pg S ml-I. In stem, the ascending order was O<3O<5O<4O

<IO<2O and in root the ascendit'rg pattern was o<50<30< 40< lO<20 (Table 3)'

Relative growth rate (RGR) was calculated by considering total dry weight at harvest

T1 and T2. The RGR of plants grown in 20 [g S Tl-t was highest. It was 0.26 mg

,ng-t 6ur-t as compared with O.IBB mg mgl day-l in case of the control (Table 4)'

The ascending pattern is o<5oclo<3o<4o<2O. Dry matter yield was also

increased with the increasing concentrations of SOa and it was more prominent in

the case of leaf. As compared with the control, it was increased by 134.60lo when

plants were fed with 2O pg S ml-I. Dry matter yield of root remained the same at all

levels of S application (Figure I ).

500

400coe3ooCDE!zooo

100

0 01020304050S applied (ppm)

Figurel.DrgmatteryielddifferentplantpartsoJsu4JTowersttpptieduithdifferentsul.Phur cortcenttatios

Leaf growth showed variable response to the S application. The leaves accord-

ing to the growth stages were classified into old, expanded and developing ones'

LÀf growth was selective to the S applied. DMY of old leaves remained constant'

Applrcation of S did play a prominent role to increase DMY of the expanded leaves

and itwas more effectiveat20 pgS ml-l (Figure 2). The growth olexpanded and

developing leaves was in function of time also' In the 4th and Sth week it was

increased 5 and 27 times, respectively. Developingleaves increased by 1.5 and 4'3

times in the 4rh ancl btl' week of growth, respectively (Figure 3). In the Sth week of

plant growth, the expanded leaves increased 5 times as cornpared with the 4th week

while the growth of developing leaves increased 2'33 times'

Sulphuruptakeindevelopingleaves(DL),expandedleaves(EL)andoldleaves(OL) was curvilinearly correlated with the S applied' Up to 10 or 20 pg S ml-l level'

its uptake went up. At 20 pg S rnl-l, in DL and EL, S uptake was increased by 48

HELIA,2O, Nr. 27. p.p. 127-134, (1997) 131

and 329 o/o, respectively. Its uptake in oL was increased at 20 pg s ml-I applied.Then up tiu 50 pg s ml-I. the s uptake declined by 22o/o. At so Fg s ml-I, in DL, theuptake was decreasedby 25o/o.

Table 3: Effect of different levels of so4 on stern and root dry rnatter yield of sunflowerSOo applied

(ppm) Stem (mg/plant)

Hl H2 Total SOa applied H1 TotalH2(ppm) Root (mg/plant)

0

10

20

30

40

50

110.3

114.7

135.4

117 .7

106.6

105.0

429.0 539.3

904.3 101 9.0

938.6 1074.0

628.7 746.4

847.7 954.3

725.9 830.9

225.0 272.0

348.5 410.3

370.0 447.3

322.1 380.5

341.7 389.7

278.5 324.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

47.O

61 .8

77.3

58.4

48.0

46.4LSD 16.8 94.6 33.78 147

Table 4: Effect of different concentrations of S on relative growth rate (RGR) of plant, specilïcabsorption rate of S (Is) and specific utilization rate (Us) of S

SOa applied(ppm)

RGR

1mg mg-l oay"1)ts

1gg mg-r day-r)Us

lpmot g-1 day-l)0

10

20

30

40

5U

0.1 88

0.194

o.26

o.225

o.23

0.19

4.03

6.76

1.71

1.09

0.38

29.62

27.27

20.82

27.95

47.'t1

67.38

The specific intake rates of S indicate that the maximumved when 20 pg S ml-I were applied (9.33 mg mg-l day-l)higher than the control (Table 3).

intake rate was obser-and it was 1.31 times

600

e'5006

$+ooE

È'300o

i 200

â roo

0 01020304050S applied (ppm)

Figure 2. Drg nrcrtter Aield oJ older, expa nded and deuetoping leaues oJ sunJtower supplied.with dlfferent sulphur conce,Ttrations

127-r34, ( 1997)

The specific intake rate increased up to the application of 20 pg s ml-I and

decreased when 30. 40 and 20 ptg S ml-I were applied (Table 4). Similarly' specific

utilization of S is indicating that S was most efficiently used when plants were fed

with 20 pg S rnl'l (20.82 prmol gl day-l)as compared with the plants fed with 50 pg

s ml-I (67.38 pmol gl day-l) {.Iable +).

01020304050S applied (PPm)

Figure 3. Sulphur uptake bg older' expanded and deueloping laeues

The development of the vegetative parts of sunflower depends on a specific con-

centration of SOa applied. After completing a period when the 'intake' amount of the

nutrient is consumed, the uptake process restarts for further differentiation and

development. In this study in general' lO to 2O ppm S were sufficient for maximurn

growth of leaf at particular growth stage of leaf for a specific concentration of SOa

applied. This was based on the observation given by Loneragan ( l968) that the min-

imum rate of intake of the nutrient with the maximum growth rate is a crop require-

ment for a specific crop. The plant parts of sunflower i.e. root, shoot and especially

the leaf shared a specific response to the range of applied S. The root system

showed similar response to the applied range and it acted as a supplier' stem

responded to a lesser extent than the leaf. Various development forms of the leaf

were in function of time. As cornpared with oL and DL, EL required a larger

arnount of soa, but it was decreased with the passage of time and increasing rate of

s application. such observations have also been supported by Subbiah et aI"(1970), i.e., a decrease in utilization of s with an increase in the level of applied s'

The results show that DMY was increased with the growth time and to a particular

range. s applied contributed to DL, oL and EL. A specific concentration of s

applied worked at a particular stage of the leaf and its entry may uot be based on

mass flow.

It can be concluded from RGR, Is and Us that 20 Pg S ml-r is the best concen-

tration for the optimum growth of sunflower'

3500

c.3000

8250032ooo

9 tsoo(5

-9 roooa soo

0

HELIA,2O, Nr. 27.p.p. 127-134, (1997) 133

REFERENCES

Baput, P. N.' S. B. Sinha and D. A. Sinde., l g36. Effect of sulphur arrd phosphorus ol yieldand nutfient contents of black graln. J. Ind. Soc. Soil Sci. 34:g2-g6

Bardsley, C.E.' 1960. AbjolPlio1, of Sulphur frorn Organic and Inorganic Sources by BushBeans. Agron. J. 52: 485-486.

Dixit,M.L.audU.C.Shukla.. lgS4.Effectofboron,sulphurandzincatdifferentphosphorusarld rnoisture levels on yield of mustard (Brassièa juncea C. ). J. Ind. Soc. SoiI Sci.32:186-188.

Eaton, F.M.,_1966. Strlphur. In: H.D. Chaprnan (ed.). Diagnostic criteria for plalts and soil.Univ. California Div. Agri. Sci. Berkekeley p. a44- ZS.

Gornez, K.A. and Gornez, 4.4., 1976. Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research withEmphasis on Rice. 'fhe Int. Rice Res. Inst. Manila.

Hunt, R., 1978. Plant growth analysis. Edward Arnold, London.Loneragan, J.F., 1 968. Nutrient requirernents of plarrts. Nature (London) 22o- l 3og.Subbiah' B.V. and N. Singh, lg7O. Efficiencyof Gypsurn as a Source of Sulphur to Oilseed

crops, studied with Radioactive sulphur and Radioactive calciurn. hld. J.Agric. sci. 40(31:227-234.

Verma, S.K., 1981. Specific Ion Effect on Growth in WheatPlrysiol. 24:290-294.

von Uexkull, H. R., 1988. Sulphur interaction with otherSulphur Agri. Soils, Dhakka. p: 212-242.

{TriticLrnT aestiDur?l). Ind. J. Pl.

plant nutrients. In: Proc. Synp.

INFLUENCIA DE DISTINTAS CONDICIONES DECONCDNTRACION DEL IÔN SULFATO EN LA PARTICIôNDE SULFURO Y CRECIMIENTO ENTRE RATZ, TALLO YHOJAS DE GIRASOL

RESUMEN

Plantas de $rasol Helianthus annuus L. cv. NK-26S fueron cultivadashidroponicarnente en una soluciôn Hoa$and (pH b.Z) para estudiar laresplresta de partes de la planta a niveles crecientes de S (O, lO, 20, 3O, 40 y50 pg ml-') en triplicado. Plântr,rlas con doce dias fueron transplantadas. Lacosecha se llevd a cabo en el dia 29 y 36 despues clel transplante. Despues dela cosecha las distintas partes de la planta fueron separadas en hojas, tallos yraices. Las partes fueron secadas en horno azo.2oc despues de rnedir el pesofresco. Las lnuestras fueron digeridas en HNO3 y HCloa y el s fue estirnado. Laaplicaciôn de 20 $g de s por ml-r incrernentô significativalnente la longitud dela raiz y del tallo. La tasa de crecimiento relativo (RGR) de las plantas crecidasen 20 pg de S rnl-l fué de 0.26 ,ng rng-l dia-l cornparada con O.lgg mg mg-ldia'' en el caso del control. similarlnente el azufre fué mucho rnas eficiente-mente utilizado por plantas crecidas en 20 pg s rnl-l en cornparaciôn con otrostratamientos. La toma de sulfuro en hojas en desarrollo (DL), hojas expandi-das (CL) y hojas viejas (OL) estuvo correlacionada curvililearnente con elazufre aplicado. La toma de azufre fué incrementada por 40 y 4gO o/o r€spec-tivarnente en DL y CL cuando las plantas fueron crecidas en 20 ptg S rnl-I. alincrelnentar la aplicaci6n de S por encima de 20 ug rnl-r la asirnilaciôn decre-ciô. Las hojas en desarrollo, viejas y expandidas, respondieron clararnonte a laaplicaciôn de S. Las hojas - actuaron como suplidores de la fuente al sumr-dero, el tallo respondid rnenos que las hojas. Conforme las actividades meta-bôlicas son rnas altas en las hojas expandidas, estas mostraron una clararespuesta.

L34 HELIA. 2O, Nr. 27. p.p. 127 -134, ( 1997)

INFLUENCE DE DIFFÉRBNTBS CONCENTRATIONS ENIONS SULFATE SUR LA CROISSAITICE EÎ LA REPARTITIONDU SOUFRE DAIYS LES RACINES, LES FEUILLES ET LESÎIGES DE TOURNESOL

RtrSUME

Desplantesdetournesol|He|ianthusonntltlsL.cv.NK.265)orrtétécttl-tivés eu

".rlt.r.. hydropouique avec urle solutiotr rlutritive de Hoagland à detni-

co[cerltratiorl, (pH 5.7) pour étudier la réponse des diverses fractions de la

plalte à différents'iveaù de S (O, lO, 20, 30, 40 et 5O g ml-ll, en trois répéti-

iio's. De je'lles pla.tlrles âgées de l2 jours o't été repiquées et les récoltes

faites le 29 et le 36 jour après le repiquage Après récolte' les plantes sont frac-

tionnées en feuilles, tiges et racilles. Les diverses fractions sont séchées dans

urre étuve à7O.2oC "piè"

rrr."rr.. du poids frais. Les écha'tillons so't digérés

dans HNO3 et HCIO4 puis s est esfirné. L',application de 20 pg de S ml-l aug-

rnente sigilficativernerlt la longuerrr des racines et des pousses fe.uillées. La

croissanè relative des plantes (RGR) dans 20 tlg cle S rnl-' étâit de 0.26 Ing

*gl .;o.r.-l pu. rupporià O.lg8 'rg

rngl jour-l chez le térrioin. De rnême le

"Àft. u été utilisé plus efficacetnent par les plantes se développant dans 20 pg

de S rnl-l "or'purutiuament

aux autres traitelnents. Le prélèvernent du soufre

dans les feuilles en développement (DL), les feuilles étalées (EL) et les feuilles

plus âgées (OL) était curvilinéairelnent lié au soufre appliqué' L'assimilation

à., "orrf..

est augmentée de 4o à 4goolo respectivernent dans DL et trL lorsque

les plantes se développent dans.2O pgde S rnl-l' Lorsque la dose de soufre est

aug;'entée au delà de 20 Fg lnl-l , le prélèvetnent dirninue. Les feuilles en cours

de-développernent,plusâgé."ottétaléesrépondelltclairernentausoufreappli-qué. Les racines agissent àorrrrr. "pourvoyeur" de la source vers le puits, la tige

appliqtré.Lesracirresagissentcornlne,,pourvoyeur''delasotrceverslepuits.latigà repor.rdaDt noins que les feuilles. cornme les activités métaboliques soDt

pius éËvées dans les feuilles étalées, elles traduisent urte réponse évidente'